Metal Flexible Pipe Joint Locking Retainer Against Disconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Screw connection-type pipe joints for metal flexible pipes used in city gas piping are prone to easy disconnection, posing safety concerns due to their readily releasable coupling mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A pipe joint design featuring a hollow joint main body, a nut, a seal member, and a retainer with a pawl portion and a retainer locking portion that gets caught and locked inside the joint main body, preventing the metal flexible pipe from being easily disconnected even when the nut is loosened, through a configuration that includes a locking groove and a convex portion for secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a screw connection-type pipe joint is used with a simple structure and fewer components, then the manufacturing cost is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the coupling becomes readily releasable which worsens safety and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is divided into functionally distinct segments: a pawl portion for engaging the metal flexible pipe and a retainer locking portion for locking to the joint main body. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently, achieving both simple manufacturing and enhanced safety through the additional locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer locking portion is designed to automatically engage with the locking groove in the joint main body during the coupling process, before the nut is fully tightened. This preliminary locking action ensures that the coupling cannot be readily released, even if the nut is loosened, thereby improving safety without adding complex assembly steps.
2Reliability
If a retainer locking portion is added to prevent easy disconnection, then safety and reliability are improved, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer locking portion is merged with the existing retainer structure rather than being a separate component. The retainer simultaneously performs multiple functions: retaining the metal flexible pipe through the pawl portion and locking to the joint main body through the retainer locking portion. This merging approach improves safety without increasing the number of components or overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer is designed as a multi-functional component that combines the pipe retention function (pawl portion) with the locking function (retainer locking portion). This single component performs multiple critical functions, reducing the need for additional separate parts and maintaining device simplicity while enhancing safety.
3Ease of manufacture
If the retainer structure is simplified to reduce manufacturing cost, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the insertability of the metal flexible pipe and resistance to damage may be worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is designed with locally optimized features: the pawl portion has a specific cross-sectional shape that provides sufficient flexibility for the metal flexible pipe to be inserted while maintaining structural integrity. This local quality optimization ensures easy insertion during installation while keeping the overall retainer structure simple and cost-effective to manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe joint includes a hollow joint main body; a nut that is screwed into the joint main body; a seal member that is mounted to inside of the joint main body; and a retainer that is placed between the joint main body and the nut and comprises a pawl portion engaged with a trough of a metal flexible pipe in a coupled state and a retainer locking portion caught and locked inside of the joint main body in the coupled state.